The Arts Catalyst

Steve Kurtz case dismissed

BUFFALO, US. Artist Steve Kurtz, a member of the Critical Art Ensemble, has had the mail and wire fraud case against him dismissed by Federal Judge Richard J. Arcara.

In June 2004, Professor Kurtz was charged with mail and wire fraud stemming from an exchange of $256 worth of harmless bacteria with Dr. Robert Ferrell, Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh. In May 2004, FBI agents and the Joint Terrorism Task Force had raided Kurtz’s home, seizing art works and research materials (as well as the bacteria) for the Marching Plague project, which aimed to critique the history and current status of biowarfare research. Despite this and initially being suspected of being a bioterrorist, Kurtz was able to reconstruct the research and produce the film Marching Plague, commissioned by The Arts Catalyst.

The prosecution has the right to appeal this dismissal. For more information about the case, please visit: caedefensefund.org

Nicola Triscott, Director

Image: Steve Kurtz during the Marching Plague project, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

Missing Russian artist: body found

With great sadness, we report that police in Berlin have found a body they say is probably that of the missing Russian artist Anna Mikhalchuk. "So far there are no indications that Ms. Mikhalchuk was the victim of a crime," police said in a statement, "She apparently took her own life."  Latest report

Nicola Triscott, Director

Czech artists acquitted for nuclear bomb prank

PRAGUE, Czech Republic: Czech artists Ztohoven who hacked into a national television weather broadcast last year to show what appeared to be a nuclear explosion have been acquitted of the criminal charge of spreading false information. More details.

Nicola Triscott, Director

Where is Anna Mikhalchuk?

Russian artist, Anna Mikhalchuk, has disappeared in Berlin. 

Anna Mikhalchuk (also known as Anna Alchuk) has been living in Berlin with her husband, the philosopher Mikhail Ryklin, since 2007. Both are well-known critics of President Vladimir Putin's regime. Anna left her apartment on March 21, telling her husband she planned to run errands, but has not been seen since. Anna was tried in Russia in 2005 for inciting religious hatred in relation to a 2003 exhibition in Moscow. The exhibition featured works of art that were seen as blasphemous by many Russian Orthodox believers. Mikhalchuk was cleared, but two associates were convicted and fined.

Anna and Mikhail took part in Arts Catalyst's MIR project in 2001.

Nicola Triscott, Director

Walking the Cabbage and other non-Olympic activities

To Manchester, where the first Asia Triennial, covering a wide swathe of new art activity from China to S. Asia via Singapore, was opened by UK Culture Secretary Andy Burnham. Making reference to last week's photo-shoot of himself and fellow minister Ed Balls on a children's swing he added that it would not be a bad thing if more cabinet ministers played on the swings, a sentiment no doubt shared by the organisers of last week's International Tree Climbing Day.

Next weekend the Asia Triennial is continuing the theme of unconventional alternative sporting activity when artist Han Bing will orchestrate 100 volunteers from all walks of life to walk the streets pulling an individual cabbage (Chinese of course). Bing sees his work, brought to Manchester by International 3, as 'exploring the struggles and desires of ordinary people in China's "theatre of modernization" '

Down the road, in Cornerhouse, in the exhibition by S.Asian women What Do You Want, Shaina Anand has created an intriguing multi-layered work based on conversations between a group of students introduced by the artist and CCTV operatives in their control centre: sample conversation 'It's just like 1984 in here' - 'Actually the equipment isn't quite that old'. In one projection a group of the participants friends on the outside invent a new sport with their mobiles - phone up and the cameras point at you.

Back in London on Sunday a new Olympic sport with China in mind has been invented - grab the Olympic torch and free Tibet...

Rob La Frenais, Curator